Opera Pacific Sets 4-Program Season of New, Old

Opera Pacific will open its four-opera 1999-2000 season with Verdi’s “La Traviata,” Nov. 9-14, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Elizabeth Futral, who recently sang Stella in Andre Previn’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” for the San Francisco Opera, will sing her first Violetta. David Miller will sing Alfredo, and Louis Otey will sing Germont. John Mauceri will conduct. Linda Brovsky directs the 1987 San Francisco Opera production.

Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” is Jan. 18-23. Richard Bernstein will sing Figaro. Christine Brandes will sing Susanna. Ainhoa Arteta will sing her first Countess to John Hancock’s Count. Rinat Shaham will sing Cherubino. John DeMain will conduct. Colin Graham, original director of this 1990 production created for the Banff Center for the Arts in Alberta, Canada, will oversee its refurbishment.

Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” will be here for the first time Feb. 22-27. Sylvie Valayre will sing Manon; Hugh Smith will sing Des Grieux, and Frank Hernandez will sing Lescaut. DeMain will conduct. Bernard Uzan will direct the 1998 L’Opera de Montreal production, which he created.

Another O.C. first, Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” will be April 18-23, 2000. Vinson Cole will sing Hoffmann. Jan Grissom will sing all four women; Richard Bernstein will sing all the villains. Zheng Cao will sing Nichlausse. DeMain will conduct. Ian Judge will direct the 1992 Houston Grand Opera production, which will incorporate spoken dialogue as in the original Opera Comique version.

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In addition to the full-length operas, a “Fiesta Italiana” concert of opera excerpts and songs, sold separately, will be given Sept. 12 at the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach. DeMain will conduct. The roster of singers will include sopranos Paula Delligatti and Robin Follman, tenor Carlo Ventre and baritone Mark Delavan.

Season tickets for the four operas, to go on sale Monday, range from $105 to $552. Individual tickets: $32 to $151. Tickets for “Fiesta Italiana” range from $20 to $75. Information: (800) 346-7372.